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What parents need to know

Provides fun way for cross-generational players to compete on two or more DS's

Positive role models

There aren't really any personalities in this game, but players may take cues from the behaviors of other players in the same room.

Ease of play

Individual games aren't too hard to figure out, but working quickly to score better can prove challenging.

Violence & scariness

Not applicable

Language

Not applicable

Consumerism

A sequel to Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day.

Privacy & safety

No privacy or safety concerns.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this game requires that players be able to read, understand money, and do addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; this is not a good fit for kids younger than 8. With younger children, you may need to explain how to play the games under the "Think" category. Because this is played using a stylus on the DS touch-sensitive screen, it's an easy game for parents or other video game newbies to learn how to play. Overall, it's a terrific game for families to play together.

What kids can learn

Subjects

Language & Reading

following directions

reading

spelling

Math

arithmetic

sequences

shapes

Skills

Thinking & Reasoning

logic

memorization

problem solving

Engagement, Approach, Support

Engagement

This is a good game for friends and family looking to play together. It has a welcoming design and simple interface that should prove accessible to almost anyone.

Learning Approach

Players solve simple navigation problems, examine geometric puzzles, work on simple math and measurement tasks, and test their short term memories.

Support

It's easy to learn how to use the stylus on the touch-sensitive screen, and instructions precede all activities. Some games may have to be explained to younger children.

What kids can learn

Subjects

Language & Reading

following directions

reading

spelling

Math

arithmetic

sequences

shapes

Skills

Thinking & Reasoning

logic

memorization

problem solving

Kids can learn about and practice a wide variety of mind exercises in this diverse compilation of brain-focused activities. Players use logic to solve simple navigation problems, examine geometric puzzles that require spatial reasoning skills, work on a variety of simple math and measurement tasks, and test their short term memories in timed recollection activities. Many of the puzzles in Big Brain Academy are inspired by IQ tests but are simpler and place a greater emphasis on speed.

User reviews

Parents say

Kids say

What's it about?

The premise behind BIG BRAIN ACADEMY, Nintendo's second title that promotes \"exercising\" your brain, is that you are competing for the \"Biggest Brain,\" a designation determined by how well you perform on the provided tests. Tests are made up of five one-minute Mini games drawn from a pool of 15 games and divided into five categories: Memorize, Identify, Compute, Analyze, and Think. Your test score is given in terms of grams -- the more grams your brain weighs, the smarter you are. In the Memorize category, one of the games flashes numbers on the screen and you punch those numbers into an on-screen calculator using the stylus. In one of the Identify games, you examine a grid of objects to find matching pairs. Under the Compute category, you will answer math problems that are written (\"thirteen plus eight is\"); and under the Analyze category you will have to determine the number of cubes in a picture. At the end of a one-minute game, you receive a score and if you missed any, you can review those questions and retry them.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

To compete against family members or friends, you only need one software cartridge, but as many Nintendo DS units as you have players. Parents and kids can go head-to-head answering the same questions to see whose brain is bigger. Since this game is easy to learn and tests skills adults are comfortable with, this is a good way for parents who have not played video games with their kids to jump in.

The brain scoring seems a little wacky but most of our testers were able to add weight to their brains the more they played. These games require players to know how to read, understand money, and do addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; so this is not a good fit for those under 8 years of age. It is good for friends and family looking for a video game to play together.

Families can talk about...

Families can talk about which of the 15 games they like best and why. Do you think you are getting smarter by playing these games?

Can you think of real-life jobs where math computations are a part of the job? Does the educational aspect of the games make you feel good about playing or does it feel more like homework?

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About Our Rating System

The age displayed for each title is the minimum one for which it's developmentally appropriate. We recently updated all of our reviews to show only this age, rather than the multi-color "slider." Get more information about our ratings.

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